Solar eclipse delights crowds across Asia

People across Asia have witnessed a spectacular annular solar eclipse, which saw the moon pass in front of the sun to create a so-called "ring of fire".

The phenomenon was visible from countries including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Thailand.

Thousands of people wore special viewing glasses or used adapted binoculars to watch the rare event up close.

Solar eclipse
The moon begins to travel across the sun, as viewed from Bangkok, Thailand (Sakchai Lalit/AP)
Solar eclipse
The start of the solar eclipse can be seen behind a building in Lahore, Pakistan (KM Chaudary/AP)
Solar eclipse
The eclipse proves to be a picturesque background to silhouetted statues in Islamabad, Pakistan (BK Bangash/AP)
Solar eclipse
Birds fly past the eclipse in Hyderabad, India (Mahesh Kumar A/AP)
Solar eclipse
In Manila, the Philippines, a cloudy sky made the eclipse appear even more stunning (Aaron Favila/AP)
Solar eclipse
People across Asia stopped what they were doing to watch the phenomenon, including this roadside vendor in Hyderabad, India (Mahesh Kumar A/AP)
Solar eclipse
A Sri Lankan girl uses a special lens to watch the event in the capital Colombo (Eranga Jayawardena/AP)
Solar eclipse
Students hold special filters to view the eclipse at the Santiratwitthayalai School in Bangkok, Thailand (Sakchai Lalit/AP)
Solar eclipse
A group of students in viewing glasses turn to the skies in Jakarta, Indonesia (Tatan Syuflana/AP)
Solar eclipse
A large group come together in Hyderabad, India, to view the rare sight (Mahesh Kumar A/AP)

Advertisement